Why I Choose Intentions Over Affirmations in My Rituals

Have you ever tried repeating affirmations — “I am enough,” “I am abundant,” “I am healed” — and felt… nothing? Or maybe a quiet resistance inside, like the words didn’t land?

You’re not alone.

In much of the self‑help and wellness world, affirmations are often presented like magic spells: say the right words, and the life you want appears. But for many people — especially sensitive souls, empaths, and intuitive thinkers — affirmations can feel performative, forced, or even create internal pressure.

That’s precisely why, in my own rituals — and in the intention‑based tools I create — I choose something different: intention.

Let’s explore why intention feels more honest, compassionate, and effective — especially in ritual.

✨ What’s the Real Difference Between an Affirmation and an Intention?

Affirmation

An affirmation is a statement stated as if it’s already true:

• I am confident.
  
• I am successful.
• I am healed.

It declares a desired outcome as a present fact — whether or not it feels true yet.

Intention

An intention is a direction of focus, not a declaration of identity:

• I am willing to explore confidence.
  
• I choose to learn what confidence feels like.
• My focus is on healing with patience and curiosity.

Intention meets you where you are — honouring your current experience while guiding you forward.

🌿 Why Affirmations Can Feel Like Pressure

Affirmations can feel like something you must perform — a checklist:

Say it right, say it enough, believe it fast enough.

That pressure can create an internal tension between what your brain knows and what the words are telling you, especially when:

• You don't yet feel the truth of the statement
• The affirmation feels disconnected from your experience
• It triggers a sense of "pretend" rather than present reality

Research even shows that repeating positive self‑statements that don’t feel believable can increase resistance and discomfort — especially for people who are sensitive to incongruence. (If you’d like the research, I’ve included a short FAQ at the end of this post.)

✨ Why Intention Feels Different

Intention doesn’t demand that you bypass where you are or perform a version of yourself you haven’t lived yet.

It says:
“This is where I’m headed — and I’m willing to move in that direction.”

That shift — from pretending to willing — changes the internal landscape.

Intention:
🌿 Honours your present reality
🌿 Invites curiosity, not performance
🌿 Respects your pace and nervous system
🌿 Becomes a compass, not a demand

💛 A Balanced Perspective on Affirmations

I’m not saying affirmations never work. For some people — especially those who already feel aligned with the statement — affirmations can be powerful and transformative.

But for many — especially those who feel disconnected from the wording — affirmations can feel like a mismatch between aspiration and lived experience.

Intention, by contrast, meets you where you truly are.

🌿 How to Create an Intention That Feels True

Here are simple steps to begin using intention in your rituals:

1️⃣ Start with willingness
Instead of “I am confident,” try:
➡ “I’m willing to explore confidence.”

2️⃣ Honor where you are
➡ “I’m learning to trust myself.”
➡ “I’m open to healing with patience.”

3️⃣ Keep it simple
Intentions don’t need to be dramatic or poetic — they just need to feel honest.

✨ An Example from My Own Practice

When I created intention‑based ritual tools, I deliberately avoided scripted affirmations that might feel forced.

Instead:
🌿 Each candle includes a gentle invocation — an invitation, not a declaration
🌿 There’s space to write or speak your own intention — exactly how YOU feel called in that moment

And time and again, I’ve seen how powerful this feels:
When someone uses language that matches their internal truth (not someone else’s version of success), the nervous system relaxes — and real transformation can begin.

🌿 Your Words Are Sacred

Here’s the deep truth:

✨ Your journey doesn’t need to be fixed or perfected
✨ You don’t have to perform your own worthiness
✨ You’re allowed to move at your own pace

Intentions aren’t about pretending you’re there already — they’re about orienting your energy toward what matters.

Your words are sacred because you chose them.

✨ If You’d Like to Explore Intention‑Based Rituals…

I’ve curated a collection of tools designed to support intentional living — from candles to ritual accessories that meet you exactly where you are.

[Explore Ritual Tools ➝]